Bengal not to return MGNREGA funds demanded by Centre

The West Bengal government today said it would not return Rs 280 crore, received under the MGNREGA scheme, as demanded by the Centre citing that the amound was used to dig private ponds in rural areas.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee said that the government wrote a letter to the central government explaining that the ponds were not private property since the water was used for farming, irrigation and household need.
"We recently received a letter from the central government stating it will deduct Rs 280 crore from the funds we received under the MNREGA scheme. We oppose such demands and we will not return the amount," Mukherjee told reporters.

"In rural Bengal ponds are used for public utility. So there is no question of returning the money. This policy of digging up ponds in rural Bengal has provided employment to lakhs of people," he said.